All Activity

NikonRumors reports that the new Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART full-frame DSLR lens will be priced at around €1,250 or approx. $1,400. The official release date should be in December-January. For comparison, the Nikon 28mm f/1.4 version is priced at $1,996.95.
New Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Sports full-frame DSLR lens will be priced around $1,400. Pre-orders will open on November 16th, shipping should start on December 14th.

Rumors of a new Canon EOS R mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor surfaced online again. There is also the possibility that Canon will start using the brand new Sony IMX571 26MP back-illuminated APS-C sensor in one of their upcoming cameras (not sure if it will be a DSLR or a mirrorless with RF mount).

Exactly a year after the premiere of Mate 10 Pro, Huawei presented its successor - Mate 20 Pro. According to the latest trends, at the back of the smartphone we will find 3 lenses with the combined optical range from 16 to 80mm and everything will be, of course, supported by “artificial intelligence”.
Mate 20 Pro, is – as the producer assures – the strongest smartphone in the company’s history, but we are going to focus on its photography properties. As we’ve already mentioned, the smartphone is equipped with a triple Leica camera module which consists of:
An ultra-wide 20MP lens with the equivalent of 16mm and the light of f/2.2, which gives a possibility of focusing from the distance of 2.5cm. PDAF/Laser AF.
A 8MP telelens with the equivalent of 80mm and the light of f/2.4. PDAF/Laser AF.
A 40MP wide-angle 1/1.7’’ lens with the equivalent of 27mm and the light of f/1.8. PDAF/Laser AF.
The total range of lenses is 16 - 80mm – but thanks to the use of the latest digital zoom technology we can go a step further and increase this parameter to 270mm.
The lens at the front panel of the smartphone has the resolution of 24 megapixels and, apart from detailed and expressive self-portraits, it is responsible for 3D Face Unlock functions. It can also be used in the process of authorization, for instance during mobile transactions.
1). Huawei Mate 20 Pro
The artificial intelligence of Huawei Mate 20 Pro "is learning the user’s way of work” and thanks to the knowledge obtained in this way it is to significantly increase the comfort of work with the smartphone and automatically adjust the photography parameters to the surroundings. The smartphone’s sensor works within an impressive ISO range reaching 51200. The photography modes which are worth mentioning include: Super HDR, which "brings out the best" from 10 RAW photographs and creates one perfectly vivid shot out of them, and Portrait Color, which “separates the filmed color object from the converted monochromatic background.”
2). Huawei Mate 20 Pro
While writing about the latest flagship Huawei camera, we cannot forget about non-photography parameters of the device. Mate 20 Pro has the 9-core Kirin 980 processor created in the 7nm technology, 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of in-built memory. The smartphone’s memory can be expanded with the use of NM cards (nanoSD). The OLED screen with the proportions of 19, 5:9 has the diagonal of 6.39" and the resolution of 3120 × 1440px. It is folded on the sides and covered with Gorilla Glass.
The body of Huawei Mate 20 Pro is made of glass and metal and its dimensions are 157,8 × 72,3 x 8,6mm. In the big body we will find a big battery with the capacity of 4200mAh. The whole construction is waterproof and it meets the IP68 norm.
The smartphone can be already bought on eBay for $1,150 and Huawei confirms the Mate 20 isn’t coming to the U.S. 😕

As fujirumors.com reports, Mitakon (Zhong Yi Optics) has announced that the new 65mm f/1.4 lens will appear on sale in the first half of 2019. The information about a new medium-format Fujifilm GFXlens is very limited. But one thing is for certain - the announcement of the premiere of the lens in this standard which will have "a reasonable price" is something that many photographers await.
In the Mitakon's offer there is one lens dedicated to the users of Fujifilm GFX - namely Speedmaster 85mm f/1.2. The lens costs around $850.
As for now, it is hard to speculate about the price of the new lens - we will have to wait for a few months for more details.

Yongnuo is not wasting time - the YN 35mm lens described today is the fourth lens of the producer about which we are informing this year. The main properties of the lens concern the complex optical system with the advanced defect correction, good resolution, effective autofocus and resistant body. This bright full-frame camera may become an interesting proposition for the fans of street, reportage or even portrait photography.
The optical system of the lens is based on 11 elements placed in 9 groups - among them we will find two aspherical lenses and two low-dispersion ones. Yet another procedure used by the producer in order to minimize the appearance of the light flares and light leaks is covering the lenses with several anti-reflective coatings. The aperture of the lens consists of 7 blades and its nominal hole is f/1.4. The minimum focus distance is 35cm.
1). Yongnuo YN 35mm f/1.4
The effective DC Motor is responsible for the speed of work of the autofocus. Thanks to it, the AF is to be quick, precise and it should work well even in the "Live View" mode. On the body of the lens, we will find a frame which facilitates manual focusing and which shows the scale of the hyperfocal distance. Thanks to the USB connection, it will be possible to update the lens' software.
2). Yongnuo YN 35mm f/1.4
Yongnuo YN 35mm f/1.4 is equipped with gold-plated contacts and the metal mount has been covered with the chrome layer. All of this is supposed to positively influence electrical conductivity and general durability of the lens. The device has the dimensions of 82 × 111mm and it weighs 810g.
The detailed specification of the lens is not known yet. Unfortunately, we also don't know when YN 35mm f/1.4 will appear on sale and how much it will cost.

If some of you had an impression that the look of a new "armored” compact Ricoh camera is familiar, then it's very probable that you were right. WG-60 closely resembles its older brother, WG-50, whose premiere took place in the previous year. Not much has changed inside since the camera can still be immersed up to 14 m, dropped from 1.5m, squeezed and used in low temperature.
Ricoh WG-60 is a camera which has been created having in mind lovers of intense experiences. The camera can be immersed up to 14m, where it can remain for 2h (the same as IPX 8 or JIS Class 8), and it is resistant to dust (the same as IPX 6 or JIS Class 6). "The armored" body of the camera also provides resistance to vibrations, falls from 1.6m and squeezing with the pressure of around 100kg. WG-60 works within the temperature range up to -10° C.
The heart of the camera is the BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" sensor with the resolution of 16 megapixels. When it comes to the optical side, we will find a lens with 5× optical zoom with the equivalent of 28 - 140mm. Around the lens, there are diodes which additionally illuminate the photographed objects, mainly in the "microscope” mode. The camera works within the ISO range of 125 – 6400 and the video can be recorded in Full HD 30p (H.264).
1). Ricoh WG-60
At the back wall of the camera, there is the 2.7'' LCD screen with the resolution of 230,000 pixels. The screen has been covered with the anti-reflective coating and there is also a possibility of regulating the screen brightness. The shape and the ergonomy have remained unchanged in comparison to WG-50.
The novelties of the camera can be found in its functionality. A new mode of underwater photographs optimizes colors and contrast based on the data of images actually caught under water. During taking photographs under water, WG-60 is to compensate the loss of red shades and contrast caused by light diffusion in water. The "Flash Off + Flash On" option enables taking 2 photographs under water – one with the use of the flash and one without the flash at single press of the shutter button. Pixel Track SR, Digital SR and Movie SR are modes which support taking sharp, still photographs.
2). Ricoh WG-60
The properties which are also worth mentioning include: advanced "super-resolution” image processing functions, which give photographs the effects of sharpness and high clarity, as well as the manual night photography mode in which the camera records several images of the same scene and then it creates one complex image out of them.
Ricoh WG-60 will be available in 2 color versions: red and black. The camera will appear on sale next month. The expected price is $280

If you are planning to travel in time several years earlier and take some photographs there without creating sensation, Leica has a special camera for you - M10-D. The camera, of course, does not have much in common with the old constructions - it is actually, generally speaking, Leica M10 without a display.
The camera's user can, of course, regulate the shutter, aperture, sensitivity and exposition compensation time - all of these (and other) activities can be made with the use of analog knobs. But in the twenty-first century not everything can be made in an analog way. M10-D is equipped with the advanced wireless functions.
1). Leica M10-D + Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH
The camera can be controlled remotely with the use of the "Fotos" (iOS, Android) application. There, we can also manage the recorded material. The live preview is ensured by the ... "Live View" application. We can also send DNG files to mobile devices.
2). Leica M10-D
As we've already mentioned, the camera shares its subsystems with the flagship Leica M10 camera to a huge extent. On board, we will find the 24MP CMOS sensor with the ISO sensitivity range of 100 - 50000, the Maestro II processor, the 2GB buffer and the range-finder viewfinder with automatic parallax correction. In the continuous shooting mode, the camera will take 5 photographs per second and they can be saved on SDHC cards with the capacity up to 32GB or SDXC with the capacity up to 2TB.
3). Leica M10-D
The camera's body is made of magnesium and brass and it has been created with due diligence, as can be expected from Leica. The camera has the dimensions of 139 × 37.9mm and it weighs 660g.
4). Leica M10-D + Leica Summicron-M 35mm f/2 ASPH
Advice for travelers in time: don't forget to move the film frames with the use of the thumb grip! And be careful with horse carriages
Leica M10-D can be already purchased and it costs $7995...

Lensvid published their interview with Mike Burnhill from Canon Europe, here is the recap (more interviews can be found here):
Just like the Nikon Z6/Z7 – Canon targeted with the EOS-R photo enthusiasts and not pro shooters. This led to many decisions that people have later criticized (slow shooting speed, single memory card slot, no full sensor readout in 4K), however, for the most part, all of these are the result of the way Canon’s engineers designed this camera for the specific target audience they went for (just think about this camera as a slightly more advanced mirrorless 6D MKII).
The EOS-R started as a project that aimed to make the ideal lens mount (and future lenses). DSLR lenses are complex since they need to compensate for the longer flange distance using additional optics – when you remove the mirror you can remove some of the additional unnecessary optics and make better, small lenses.
With the dual pixel technology every pixel on the camera is an AF point which means that on the EOS-R you have theoretically 30 million AF points, however, this is not practical so Canon reduced this number to 5655 AF points which is a limitation of the screen, not the sensor
The sensor in the EOS-R is from the same “family” of the 5D IV, however, Canon did change a few things like the microlenses as well as the ability to AF in low light (up to -6EV – something that we have seen in action in a demo) and of course the number of selectable AF points which is much higher on the EOS-R.
There is no option to turn off the shutter closing down when the camera turns off (to prevent dust getting into the sensor.
The flange back of the lens is more important than the flange distance – what is important is to be able to put the back of the lens closer to the sensor for better optical performance.
There is not a technical option to put an EOS-R on an EOS-M. The other way around is (maybe) possible but it will only be a macro lens according to Burnhill.
Full sensor readout is not something that was possible to have at this price point at this point in time for Canon (video was just a small part of the feature list Canon wanted for this camera and 4K was even smaller). Burnhill did mention that Canon is aware of the fact that there are users who want this and more advanced video features will come with future models.
Doing 10bit 4:2:2 internally (in the camera as opposed to into an external recorder) is not there yet in terms of heating, processing, cost etc.
Canon invented the dual card slot for cameras and it understand how it is important for reliability, however for the target market of this camera – Canon didn’t see the need to add it. However, Burnhill made it clear that a pro mirrorless camera will most likely include a dual card slot.
The idea to add the multi-function controller came from a new Canon engineer (sort of crazy Google style experiment that actually got it to a final product and Canon wants to see how users will accept it and see if it is worth keeping for future cameras).
On sensor image stabilization is something that Canon didn’t include because of cost and target market (again this camera was not really designed for pro video work).
Canon promised to release the “holy trinity” of lenses in 2019 (24-70mm, 70-200mm, 16-35mm).
Even more interesting – Canon will not introduce any new F-mount lenses in 2019, but will focus all its efforts on RF lenses. New EF lenses will come later on (there are internal roadmaps for EF) but Canon knows it needs to catch up on its mirrorless lenses.
Canon got some feedback on the eye-AF and the engineers are looking at ways to add this feature for continuous AF.
via LensVid

For people who want to pull out maximum of possibilities of cameras built in smartphones, Miggo has prepared the Pictar Pro handle - the device thanks to which a smartphone is to change into a true camera.
It is not the first time Miggo has dealt with handles extending the possibilities of photographing with the use of smartphones since Pictar Pro is the expansion of the Pictar handle presented in 2016. Contrary to the older solution, in which we could only mount Apple smartphones, Pictar Pro cooperates also with the smartphones of various brands working on Android systems.
1). Miggo Pictar Pro
The general idea of work has not changed - our smartphone, similarly to the older model, is to be plugged on the side of the device. Pictar Pro is a bit more profiled, a bit more metal and, in the placed where the ergonomy requires it, a bit more rough. The control knobs are now bigger and the cutters on their edges are deeper, which should facilitate work. With the use of the knobs, we will choose one of nine photography modes and we will also change exposition compensation. The device is equipped with the gradual shutter button and there is a zoom lever on the front. The handle with our smartphone can be mounted on a tripod. It is also equipped with a cold shoe, to which we can optionally connect accessories.
One of the more interesting options is a possibility of mounting a classic viewfinder on the handle in which the piece of the smartphone's screen fulfils the role of the viewfinder's display. This solution may be especially beneficial during taking photographs in intense sunlight. Another curiosity in Pictar Pro is its power - the handle can fulfil the W function and our smartphone is to be charged instead of discharging during taking photographs.
2). Miggo Pictar Pro
The thing which should decide about a sense of buying the Pictar Pro handle is its software, which, in connection with the very handle, is to introduce crucial facilities in the process of smartphone photography. More about this in the video attached to the text.
The campaign on Kickstarter, which is to provide financing of Pictar Pro, achieved a huge success and the collected amount has exceeded expectations multiple times. You can order your Pictar Pro for $129. The deliveries will start in March 2019.

Only recently the FeiyuTech's offer got expanded by new gimbals intended for professional users of reflex and mirrorless cameras as well as smartphones.
On FeiyuTech AK4000 gimbal we will be able to mount reflex cameras with the maximum weight of 4kg; on AK2000 – mirrorless cameras with the maximum weight of 2.8kg. The control over such heavy devices is to be ensured by modern motors with high power and more effective chips working with new advanced algorithms. In “heavy” gimbals, a number of new solutions enabling control over the gimbal work and providing a possibility of adjusting sharpness, zoom or white balance of the still and motion picture cameras (only in compatible devices) have been implemented. The gimbals are equipped with touch displays with the control panel – it will be possible to expand them in the future.
1). FeiyuTech AK4000
Besides a touch LCD screen mentioned before, on the housing of the new FeiyuTech devices we will find the USB connector, to which we will be able to connect a set of focus control, a multi-functional Magic Ring knob and additional buttons enabling fast access to particular functions, e.g. the change of gimbal's sensitivity. The gimbals have five stabilization modes, the selfie mode and auto panorama. They are also compatible with the Feiyu ON mobile application.
AK4000 and AK2000 are modular constructions – it means that in the future it will be possible to expand them by additional accessories and handles which are to appear in the producer's offer. A fully-charged battery (depending on the weight of the used still or motion picture camera) should enable 12 hours of continuous work. The devices are equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Together with the already-described AK4000 and AK2000 gimbals, the producer has presented a gimbal dedicated for smartphones – FeiyuTech SPG2. Here, also modern brushless motors and a new algorithm controlling the stable work of the device have been applied. The gimbal, in comparison to its “older” brothers is equipped with a much smaller display, but we still have a multi-functional Magic Ring knob at our disposal. The users who present their works in social media have a possibility of working vertically and horizontally. The gimbal is also equipped with the microphone connector.
2). FeiyuTech SPG2
SPG 2 offers 5 stabilization modes, auto panorama, portrait modes and two-channel Bluetooth communication. The gimbal cooperates with Vicool and Feiyu ON applications. A fully-charged battery enables 14 hours of continuous work.
The prices of the FeiyuTech gimbals are as follows:
FeiyuTech AK4000 - $599
FeiyuTech AK2000 - $379
FeiyuTech SPG 2 - $179

Universal lenses with the focal length of 40mm always find many supporters. This should't surprise anyone taking into account a wide spectrum of uses. Soon, to the joy of the users of mirrorless Sony cameras, the 40mm f/2 close focus lens will appear in the Zeiss offer.
1). Zeiss Batis 40mm F2 CF
The optical system of the lens is based on 9 lenses placed in 8 groups. Sharp photographs can be taken from the distance of 24cm with the 1:3,3 zoom. The lens is equipped with the autofocus and we will find a backlit OLED screen, which informs about the focus distance.
2). Zeiss Batis 40mm F2 CF
The body of the lens has been sealed. The filters with the diameter of 67mm can be mounted on the front lens. The lens is relatively small, its dimensions are 93 × 91mm and it weighs 361g.
The lens should cost €1299.

Viltrox, the company known up to this point as a producer of photography accessories has entered the range of the producers of lenses. The first lenses are manual PFU RBMH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH and PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 constructions, intended for use with mirrorless Sony cameras. They are also equipped with the AF motor, dedicated for Fujifilm PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 STM cameras.
Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 STM is a portrait lens with the autofocus equivalent of 135mm - the lens is for now intended for use with Fujifilm cameras. The optical system consists of 10 lenses placed in 9 groups, the aperture has 9 blades which are moved by STM (the stepper motor). Sharp photographs can be taken from the distance of 80cm. The lens is small, its dimensions are 80 × 92mm and it weighs 636g.
1). Viltrox PFU RBMH 85mm f/1.8 STM
Viltrox PFU RMBH 85mm f/1.8 lens in the second version is intended for Sony cameras. The construction of the lens does not have the autofocus. The optical system has also changed - 10 lenses in 7 groups. Other parameters look unchanged and the device's weight decreased by 10g.
2). Viltrox PFU RMBH 85mm f/1.8
Viltrox PFU RMBH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH is a manual lens intended for wide-angle camera lovers. The device is based on 12 lenses placed in 9 groups, among which one is the aspherical one and 4 are made of the ED glass. The lens is equipped with the 14-blade aperture - sharp photographs can be taken from the minimum distance of 25cm.
3). Viltrox PFU RMBH 20mm f/1.8 ASPH
The lens has the dimensions of 102 × 76.8mm and it weighs 775g - on the front lens we will mount filters with the diameter of 82mm.

The arms race when it comes to a number of lenses in-built in smartphones has fully unleashed. If you think that 3 lenses at the back of LG V40 ThinQ, which was described today, is a lot, please wait for Samsung A9 – it has four of them!
LG V40 ThinQ, besides three lenses placed at the back of the smartphone, is equipped with two front lenses for selfies.
The back lenses are in short:
12MP (1.4μm) with the f/1.5 lens and the equivalent of 27mm.
16MP wide-angle module with the equivalent of 16mm and the brightness of f/1.9.
12MP telelens with the light of f/2.4 and the equivalent of 52mm.
Taking into account the parameters of the lenses, it seems that we can expect very good results during taking photographs at light deficit. One of the curiosities should be the CineShot mode thanks to which we will be able to record the so-called moving photographs – images on which some of the elements of a static shot move.
1). LG V40 ThinQ
Fast AF in the new LG is based on phase-detection pixels. "Artificial intelligence” is also present in the smartphone – at our request, it will crop a photograph for us and propose optimal parameters during photographing a given scene.
The first of the two cameras placed at the front of the phone has the resolution of 8MP and the light of f/1.9, the second one has the resolution of 5MP and it is a wide-angle f/2.2 module. By combining their strengths, the cameras take photographs, for instance, with the effect of background blurring and there is also a possibility of controlling its intensity.
2). LG V40 ThinQ
LG V40 ThinQ means, of course, not only an impressive number of lenses – the subsystems on the basis of which the smartphone was created are also remarkable. The heart of the device is the 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the graphic side is controlled by the Adreno 630 system and the whole construction is supported by 6GB of RAM. The OLED screen has the resolution of 1440 × 31120px (QHD) and the diagonal of 6,4", ppi is 527 and the whole thing has been covered with Gorilla Glass of the fifth generation. The smartphone will be available in the versions with 64 or 128GB of in-built memory. On the housing, we will find a microSD card slot. There is also the Jack 3,5mm headphone connector - the in-build battery has the capacity of 3399mAh.
The date of the premiere and the price of LG V40 ThinQ are not known yet.

During this year's Photokina trade fair, the legendary Zeiss presented a full-frame compact ZX1, in this way confirming the rumors about entering the scope of camera producers that we'd been hearing for a long time.
Zeiss ZX1 is a compact camera enclosed in a very modern and maximally simplified housing. The only two "sticking-out” elements are the shutter speed knob and the ISO sensitivity knob.
The camera is equipped with the 37.4MP sensor and the Distagon 35mm f/2 lens, whose optical lenses have been covered with antireflective T coatings. The camera will take photographs with the speed of 3f/s and, as the producer assures, these photographs should be of perfect quality. The camera's viewfinder has been made in the OLED technology – it has Full HD resolution and 0.74× zoom.
1). Zeiss ZX1
Zeiss ZX1 has a chance to become a revolutionary device in terms of operating the camera as well as its mobility and connection with a widely-understood media world. Nearly all operations can be performed on a big 4.3'' LCD screen which is to work without any delays. The camera will connect with the Internet and send photographs to the chosen platforms without involving other devices. As for now, we don't know on what basis the connectivity with the Internet will work.
2). Zeiss ZX1
The camera is to offer 512GB of in-built memory in which we will store up to 7 thousand RAW files or even 50 thousand JPEG ones. A true revolution and a proof of the extraordinary efficiency of the camera's hardware should be the implementation of Adobe Lightroom CC, thanks to which we will be able to perform the advanced processing of our photographs without a need to transfer them onto a computer. ZX1 enables Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth – it is equipped with the USB-C connector.
As for now, we don't know the price of Zeiss ZX1 and its availability date (unofficial news say that it should take place in the first months of 2019). The price, irrespective of the currency, will be counted in the numbers of suitcased packed with banknotes.

Largest Photography Conference and Expo in North America Returns to the Jacob Javits Center this Fall with New Offerings and Enhanced Conference
NEW YORK (October 8, 2018) — the annual PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in New York from October 25-27 is a must-attend event for any photographer or imaging enthusiast. PhotoPlus is the largest photographic event in North America where manufacturers showcase the latest technologies and renowned photographers and filmmakers share their secrets to success through dozens of educational seminars and photo walks. Register now by visiting photoplusexpo.com.
“PhotoPlus Expo is a wonderland for any visual content creator. Our large Expo hall is filled with hundreds of exhibitors demonstrating the latest imaging technologies, services and accessories,” explains Mike Gangel, Show Director at PhotoPlus Expo.
PhotoPlus Expo offers the widest selection of educational programming outside a formal university classroom. Presented by world class instructors, attendees will leave PhotoPlus with a new level of knowledge they can apply to their craft and their business.
World Class Education
Attendees of this year’s PhotoPlus Expo will have an opportunity to hear from the leaders of the industry in sessions on topics ranging from lighting, portraiture, post-production, filmmaking, business classes, and so much more. This year’s keynote highlights include iconic photographers Lynsey Addario and Duane Michals plus a rousing panel about the effect of social media on today’s professional photographers.
Two new class formats are being offered this year: Workshops and Master Classes in Conversation. Both are two-hour intensive formats offering a more intimate setting for real hands-on learning. PDN Talks is another new conference track featuring topics ranging from pop culture to politics to the future of visual storytelling. Photographers, reps and creatives will discuss the dynamic world of photographic art and communication, leaving photographers and photo lovers inspired and informed.
The Expo
More than 200 exhibitors and brands of imaging hardware, software, and accessories will be on hand to demonstrate the latest technology in the world of photography and filmmaking, conduct free educational presentations at their booth, and offer special discounts on products and services throughout the Expo.
Additional learning opportunities can be found inside the Adobe Theater, which will be conveniently located on the show floor. Renowned photographers, filmmakers, and educators will conduct 30-minute seminars during the entire Expo to provide attendees with additional tips and tricks for improving their craft, and their business.
For photographers and cinematographers interested in the emerging VR and AR market, NYVR Expo will again be collocated with PhotoPlus Expo. Attendees of PhotoPlus can use their badges to gain access to the NYVR expo floor to demo the latest in virtual reality hardware from large companies and innovative startups. For more information on NYVR visit nyvrexpo.com.
For more information and frequent updates, visit photoplusexpo.com, like us on Facebook, or follow @PhotoPlusExpo on Twitter.
Website: http://www.photoplusexpo.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photoplusexpo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/photoplusexpo
About PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo
Designed for professionals in the photographic and imaging industries as well as enthusiasts, PhotoPlus Expo — http://www.photoplusexpo.com/ — showcases the latest advances in photography, digital imaging and filmmaking. Held annually at the Javits Convention Center, attendees have the opportunity to explore an inspiring array of photography and imaging products and services – all from the industry’s leading manufacturers. The show also offers seminars and intimate Photo Walks and Master Classes taught by world-renowned experts that focus on cutting-edge innovations and techniques.
PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo is owned by Emerald Expositions, a leading operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States. The company currently operates more than 55 trade shows, as well as numerous other face-to-face events. In 2017, Emerald’s events connected over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupied more than 6.9 million NSF of exhibition space.

The second version of Microsoft devices from the Surface series was presented a few days ago during a conference in New York. At a first glance, not much has changed. Still, the producer guarantees a significant increase in power in comparison to the devices from the first generation.
Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is a desktop computer of the "all in one" type. Its heart are Intel Core i7-7820HQ processors, which are to ensure the 25% increase in power in comparison to its predecessor. The computers are equipped with 16 or 32GB of RAM DDR4 memory (depending on the version), SSD drives with the capacity of 1 or 2TB and the graphic cards based on Nvidia Pascal architecture. The screen of PixelSense has the diagonal of 28" and it works in the resolution of 4500 × 3000 pixels (192PPI), it is 38% brighter (around 500 rivets) and 22% more contrast than its predecessor. The screen made in the TrueColor technology enables switching between the Vivid, sRGB and DCI-P3 spaces. When it comes to color reproduction, it is to be comparable with the professional devices so it can be professionally calibrated. The screen of Surface Studio 2 is of course a touch one – it has ten touch points and we can work on it with the use of the dedicated pen or Surface Dial.
1). Microsoft Surface Studio 2
In the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 tablet, the increase in power announced by the producer is to amount to 67% - the heart of the device will be four-core Intel Core processor of the eighth generation. The tablets will have SSD drives with the capacity from 128 to 1TB, 8 to 16GB of RAM and Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphic cards. A modernized cooling system will ensure comfortable conditions of work. The screen of PixelSense has the diagonal of 12,3" and it works in the resolution of 2736 × 1824px (267PPI). A stylus with 4096 pressure levels and the inclination sensor is available for screen operation. The tablet is to enable continuous work on one charge for 13,5h.
2). Microsoft Surface Pro 6
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 will be equipped with Intel Core i3 or i7 processors, 8 or 16GB of RAM and SSD drives with the capacity of 128 to 1TB, which are supposed to ensure 95% increase in efficiency in comparison to the predecessor. The laptops will be equipped with the PixellSense with the diagonal of 13,5" working in the resolution of 2256 × 11504px (201PPI). The screen will be a 10-point touch one and we will be able to operate on its surface with the use of Surface Pen. The laptop's battery enables 14,5h of continuous work. The device will be available in three color versions: maroon, cobalt, black and platinum.
3). Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Microsoft Surface Pro 6 and Laptop 2 will appear on sale tomorrow and they will cost $899 and $999 for the option in basic configuration. We will have to wait until 15th November for Surface Studio 2 – the price of the computer in the basic version will amount to around $3500.

Sony did not announce a new APS-C camera at the 2018 Photokina show and it seems they will not announce one this year. The Japanese website pronews.jp recently interviewed Kenji Tanaka (Sony Senior General Manager) who confirmed that Sony will announce a new APS-C based mirrorless camera by the CP+ show that will take place in Japan at the end of February (February 28th - March 3th). He also emphasized that Sony has not abandoned their APS-C mirrorless camera line.
The last Sony a6500 APS-C mirrorless camera was announced in October 2016. The Sony a6300 was announced in February 2016. The model before that (Sony a5100) was announced in August 2014 (the Sony a6000 was introduced in February 2014).
via Photorumors.com

Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1, as the very name suggests, has the focal length of 150mm and the 1:1 mapping scale, thanks to which it is to ensure very convenient work during macro photography. Due to the longer focal length, we will be able to avoid covering the light falling on photographed objects and scaring them away.
The optical system of the lens is based on twelve lenses placed in nine groups – there are three low-dispersion elements and four made of high-refraction glass. The producer assures that the distortion should be reduced to the level of 0,01%. The lens is equipped with the internal focusing system thanks to which the whole construction does not change its size during focusing. The lens’ aperture consists of eleven blades and it can be closed up to the value of f/32. The characteristic traits of the device should be nice background blurring and the diffraction which should happen later than in other lenses of such a type. Sharp photographs can be taken already from the distance of 34.5cm.
1). Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1
The lens has the "Dragonfly" finishing, which means that it is a combination of advantages of "Firefly" and "Blackstone" lenses – the frame has been made of aluminum and the housing – of aluminum and magnesium alloys with composite elements. The whole construction has been sealed with particular focus put on the most sensitive places (front lens, focus lock ring, focus ring and bayonet). The lens is relatively light and small, its dimensions are 87 × 135mm and its weight - 840g. We will be able to mount filters with the diameter of 77mm on its front.
2). Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1
The ring with the rotation scale of 270 degrees is to ensure high precision and culture of work. There is also a possibility of blocking the focus ring. The lens’ processor enables the control of the aperture from the level of the camera and the AE mode makes it possible to use semi-automatic modes (PASM). Thanks to this, the information on confirming focus from the level of the camera will be saved in the EXIF data.
3). Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1
If we buy the Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 lens, we will receive it in a stiff case in which we will also find a deep sunshield and the tripod grip in the Arca Swiss standard. The lens will be available with the Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mounts.
We don’t know yet when the lens is going to appear on sale. Its price is also unknown.

Hasselblad has presented three new lenses for medium-format cameras: XCD 80mm f/1.9, 65mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/2.8.
XCD 80mm f/1.9 is the brightest lens in the company's history which should appear in the center of attention of portrait photographers. The lens offers the equivalent of 63mm and the focus depth comparable to full-frame f/1.5 lenses.
The optical system of the lens is based on fourteen elements placed in nine groups. Sharp photographs can be taken from the minimum distance of 70cm. The lens' aperture can be closed up to the value of f/32. The aperture fulfills the function of the central shutter offering flash synchronization with the times up to 1/2000s.
1). Hasselblad XCD 80mm f/1.9
The lens has the dimensions of 112 x 84mm and it weighs 1045g. The filters with the diameter of 77mm can be mounted on the front lens.
XCD 65mm f/2.8 is a universal lens with the equivalent of 50mm. The optical system is based on ten lenses placed in six groups. The aperture can be closed up to the value of f/32 and sharp photographs can be taken from the minimum distance of 50cm.
2). Hasselblad XCD 65mm f/2.8
The lens has the dimensions of 93 x 81mm and it weighs 727g. The filters with the diameter of 67mm can be mounted on the front lens.
XCD 135mm f/2.8 has the equivalent of 105mm, which after connecting to the dedicated converter will increase to 178mm - then, the brightness will decrease to f/4.8. The optical system of the lens consists of six lenses placed in four groups. Sharp photographs can be taken from the distance of 1m.
3). Hasselblad XCD 135mm f/2.8
The lens has the dimensions of 149 x 81mm and it weighs 935g. The filters with the diameter of 77mm can be mounted on the front lens.
The lenses will be available on sale in December 2018. The prices are as follows:
XCD 80mm f/1.9 - €4,788
XCD 65mm f/2.8 - €2,748
XCD 135mm f/2.8 - €4,068